We understand that money can be a little tight for most students in higher education, particularly if your Student Finance England loans are on the lower end or you haven’t been able to secure a part-time job for whatever reason. It is a good idea for every student to work out their annual, and even weekly student budget to ensure you are not overspending and constantly relying on your student bank account overdraft. 

However, saving money doesn’t always mean having to settle for cheap products and frozen foods you don’t particularly enjoy; there are other ways to stretch your budget further by accessing student-only discounts and deals! So whether you feel like ordering in a pizza with your house mates, need to get yourself a new laptop for your degree, or just want to browse some new clothes by top brands, it’s a good idea to check whether you can pay less with a student discount!

Here are just three of the top sites for student discounts, deals, and freebies that we recommend you look into...

UNiDAYS

UNiDAYS is a discount site available for free to students worldwide! Any current student in higher education can sign up at any point with no cost and immediately access 100s of discounted deals on products and services! 

Founded in 2011, UNiDAYS is a very popular and trusted site for students, with around 20 million verified members. Anyone who is 16+ and studying either at university, sixth form or college can use it. It is an app you can download on your phone, rather than a plastic card you have to look after and carry around with you. 

UNiDAYS features offers and discounts on everything from food and drink from places like Domino’s, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and M&S Food. Technology, such as phones, laptops, and gaming equipment from top brands such as Apple, Samsung, Adobe, and many others! Plus, huge discounts of clothing brands such as Boohoo, Asos, Pretty Little Thing, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, JD, House of Fraser, Superdry, and so many more. And you can shop beauty brands like Sephora and Charlotte Tilbury!

If you don’t think you will be interested in products, you can also browse deals and discounts on lifestyle. From music subscriptions to rail travel, holidays, and flights to home products. You can also find health and fitness deals such as gym memberships, active wear, and supplements.

Visit the UNiDAYS website to sign up for free and start accessing amazing deals to save you money as a student!

Totum

Totum is the new name for the NUS extra card. It offers hundreds of UK discounts of top, big brands and small brands. It is the number one student discount card and app giving students access to huge offers from food and essentials, to travel and technology, as well as fashion and beauty, health, and fitness and more!

Totum offers savings on top brands such as Sephora, John Lewis, Boots, River Island, Halfords, eBay, Sky, Jet2holidays and much more! Plus, discounted dinning, money off your food shops, and better deals on your mobile contracts. Any paid memberships also come with a free Tastecard, a dining loyalty scheme where you can access deals like 2 for 1 at participating restaurants in Plymouth and nationwide, and in cinemas.

There are several cards on offer with Totum:

• Totum Student: 100% free student discount membership. Join to access loads of discounts and offers through our website and app. Available to higher education and further education students, aged 16 and over. TOTUM Student is only available as 1 year digital membership and requires annual renewal.
• Totum Student+: £24.99. OTUM Student+ gives you access to amazing student discounts, offers and vouchers from over 350 national brands both online and on the high street, top exclusives like 10% off every time you shop at Co-op, FREE tastecard (worth £34.99 per year), and a FREE 1 year International Student Identity Card (ISIC), featuring over 150k international discounts! 

Key features and benefits: 

• Totum Student+ Pass ID: Get all the great benefits of a TOTUM Student+ membership and add official Proof of Age ID for FREE! As well as up to 2 years of exclusive discounts, offers and vouchers, FREE tastecard (worth £34.99 per year) and 12 months free ISIC (with over 150k international discounts) Get FREE PASS Accredited Proof of Age ID with TOTUM Student+.

Key features and benefits: 

Visit the Totum website to browse card options and the types of discounts and deals you could access as a member.

Student Beans

Student Beans is a global student loyalty network helping students to save money and what you need and what you enjoy. They provide hundreds of student discounts from thousands of stores both online and in-store.

Student Beans offers exclusive deals you can’t find on other student discount sites from huge brands, including clothing, tech, entertainment, travel, food and more. You can find deals, discounts, and freebies with Gymshark, Pandora, and WHSmith and other huge brands with Student Beans. 

Student Beans iD is free for students to use, you just need to register and verify your student status online to get access to student-only discount codes and vouchers. 

Visit the Student Beans website for more information and to download the Student Beans app. 

Even if you choose not to register with one of the three sites above, or another student discount site, keep in mind that hundreds of retailers and brand names across the UK offer students discounts. You can get a student discount at most high street retailers and online. Look out for signs at the checkout, in shop windows and on websites. Usually, you just need to show your student ID card in-store (University of Plymouth will provide you with a student ID card when you start your course).

Travel

If you plan to travel often, you should also ask about student discounts on public transport, i.e., buses and trains. The 16-25 Railcard gives you 1/3 off most train fares throughout Great Britain. As the name suggests, the Railcard is only available for people aged between 16 and 25. However, you can also apply for one if you’re a mature student in full-time study, as long as you’re eligible. A Stagecoach Student Bus Passes in Plymouth offers students around 50% off on bus travel. Browse ticket types and purchase your student bus pass here.